Floor surface treating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A floor surface treating device having a container with a motor fan unit and a cyclone separator on one side thereof and a filter on the other side thereof. The container is provided with an inlet for the reception of dust-laden air or liquid. The inlet opening to the motor fan unit for the air flowing from the air outlet of the cyclone separator is in the form of a channel extending downwardly and toward the interior of the container whereby the liquid which may be entrained with the air can be removed from the air stream before it enters the motor fan unit. A tilting device for the container is provided and an arrangement for the inlet tubular piece is supplied for latching a suction conduit thereto.

United States Patent 1191 Eriksson et al.

[ 1 Apr. 15, 1975- 1 FLOOR SURFACE TREATING APPARATUS [73] Assignee:Aktiebolaget Electrolux, Stockholm,

Sweden [22] Filed: Nov. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 420,206

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 27, 1973 Sweden 7305999 [52]US. Cl. 55/337; 55/357; 55/424; 55/467; 55/DIG. 3

[51] Int. Cl B01d 50/00 [58] Field of Search 55/337, 356, 357, 383,55/410, 413, 459, 471, DIG. 3, DIG. 8, 472,

432, 433, 449, 414, 467, DIG. 25, 315, 321,

3,034,273 5/1962 Wallace 55/467 3,046,718 7/1962 Idc et al 55/2763,063,082 ll/l962 Rosenberg et al. 55/356 3,308,609 3/1967 MCCUllOCl'Iet al. 55/337 3,320,727 5/1967 Farley et a1 55/356 3,594,991 7/1971 BerZ55/337 3,633,341 l/l972 Langbis 55/467 Primary E.\'aminer-Frank W.Lutter Assistant ExaminerDavid L. Lacey [57] ABSTRACT A floor surfacetreating device having a container with a motor fan unit and a cycloneseparator on one side thereof and a filter on the other side thereof.The container is provided with an inlet for the reception of dust-ladenair or liquid. The inlet opening to the motor fan unit for the airflowing from the air outlet of the cyclone separator is in the form of achannel extending downwardly and toward the interior of the containerwhereby the liquid which may be entrained with the air can be removedfrom the air stream before it enters the motor fan unit. A tiltingdevice for the container is provided and an arrangement for the [56]References Cited l t t b l e i s pplied f latch'ng a suction me u uarpiec s u or 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS I conduit thereto. 2,233,167 2/1941Holm-Hansen 55/459 2,534,808 ll/l950 Bevington, Jr. et a1 15/353 3Claims, 5 Drawing Figures I 46 l 1" 36 1 l 11 25 l I g 22 ,3 /9 i IZ Z00 l4 I /a l l I I I WJENTEU 3,877. 902

sum 1 If 3 PATENTEDAPR 1 51915 3 71902 sum 3 qg s;

FLOOR SURFACE TREATING APPARATUS In prior constructions of floortreating devices which handled both liquid and dust, there was theproblem of entrainment of some liquid particles in the container withthe air flowing through the air outlet of the separator, the filter, andinto the inlet opening of the motor fan unit. Obviously, liquid in themotor has the capability of causing damage to the mechanism.

The present invention relates to a floor surface treatment apparatus fordust-laden air or liquid in which provision is made to prevent liquidfrom entering the motor fan unit. In addition, the container for theapparatus is provided with a tilting device and an arrangement isprovided for latching a suction conduit to the inlet of the apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a conduit structure ina floor treating apparatus for ensuring that liquid droplets entrainedwith the flowing air do not reach the inlet of the motor fan unit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a structuresecured to an exterior surface of the container for aiding in thetilting of the container in order to spill its contents.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a latchingmechanism for the tubular inlet of the container whereby the suctionhose can be removably attached thereto.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the principal components of the floorsurface treating apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachingsof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a part sectional and a part elevational view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines IIIIII of FIG. 1 withall the elements shown in that figure including the motor fan unit andthe cyclone separator but with the exception of the filter'and cover;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the suction hose connection to theinlet of the apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing a tilting device mounted on thecontainer which permits the latter to engage a structure, such as atoilet bowl, in order to tilt the apparatus to the desired degree.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As seen in FIG. 2, the floorsurface treating apparatus is referred to generally by the numeral andis shown having a generally cylindrical container 11 supported on acarriage having a forward wheel 8 and rear wheels 9 for movement of theapparatus over the work surface.

As seen in the bottom of FIG. 1, a frame structure is illustrated formounting on the upper edge of the container 11. The frame structure isprovided with an upstanding annular part 13 and a bottom section 14. Thelatter has a recessed portion 15 in which a double motor fan unit 16 isaccommodated. The bottom section 14 is further provided with a flangedopening 17 in which the cyclone separator 18 is mounted. The annularpart 13 is provided with a series of openings 19 for the passage of airexiting to the atmosphere. A plate 20 rests in the recessed portion 15of the frame 12 and the motor fan units 16 are supported thereon. Theplate 20 is further provided with inlet openings 21 and an upstandingpipe 22 which is generally vertical to the plate A cylindrical casing 23is supported on the frame 12 and has a diameter slightly larger than thediameter of the frame. The bottom of casing 23 has two spaced openings24 for receiving the motor fan units 16 and an opening 25 for the pipe22 and a further relatively large opening 26 for the upper part of thecyclone separator 18. In a part of the bottom sector of the casing 23, amultiplicity of slot-shaped openings 27 is provided for the flow ofcooling air to the motor fan units 16, and located diametricallyopposite to the openings 27 is a plurality of openings 28 through whichthe cooling air is discharged. Another opening 29 is provided in theupstanding wall 23a of the casing 23.

As seen in FIG. 1, the casing 30 is provided with two openings 31through which the cooling air is discharged from the motor fan units 16.The pipe 22 projects through the opening 32 in the casing 30. It shouldbe apparent that the casing 30 houses both of the motor fan units 16 andforms paths for the cooling air.

A funnel-shaped part 33 is seen in FIG. 1 which rests in the casing 23.The funnel has an opening 34 for the upwardly extending conduit 35 ofthe cyclone separator 18. The conduit 35 functions as the air outlet ofthe cyclone separator. The funnel-shaped part 33 is further providedwith a downwardly extending tubular piece 36 that is connected to thepipe 22. Located on the top of the part 33 and supported thereby is aflat, discshaped filter 37 having a hole 38 through which the conduit 35passes. A cover 39 encloses the filter at a distance from the uppersurface thereof and is maintained on the peripheral edge of the funnel33.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the inlet tubular piece 180 for thecyclone separator 18 is shown provided with a transverse slot 40 and anannular flange 44. A latching part is formed by a U-shaped yieldablebracket 43 having a web portion 45. The legs 43a of the bracket 43 areclamped by the flange 44 to the tubular piece 18a. A suction hose 41 ofthe well-known type may be removably connected to the inlet tubularpiece 18a by means of the movable bracket 43 in which the web portion 45thereof is moved into the transverse slot 40 and is seated in transversegroove 42 in the suction hose 41. This construction permits a simple andquick coupling of the hose to the floor treating apparatus, allowing thehose to rotate about its longitudinal axis during use of the presentfloor surface treating apparatus.

The container 11 for the apparatus is provided with an operating handle46. The outer surface of the container is further provided with aprojecting, generally angular, part 47 'on the side of the containeropposite to the handle 46. The part 47 is located a predetermineddistance from the bottom of the container and is so constructed that itcan bear against a marginal edge of an object, such as a toilet bowl,upon which the apparatus can be tilted in order to empty the contents ofthe container 11 (FIG. 5).

The operation of the floor surface treating apparatus is as follows: Airladen with dust or liquid is drawn by suction through the suctionconduit 41, the inlet tubular piece 18a, and into the cyclone separator18. Large dust particles and liquid are separated in the separator 18due to the cyclone effect and consequently fall through the outlet ofthe separator to the bottom of the container. Partially cleaned air istransported through the air outlet of the separator 18 and through theconduit 35 to the area in the container 11 about the filter 37. As seenin FIG. 2, the partially cleaned air flows through the filter 37 andfurther separates the dust from the air stream passing therethrough. Theair is then conveyed downwardly through the pipe 22 and the space 22abetween the plate and the portion 15 of the frame structure 12. The airis conducted to the inlet openings of the motor fan units 16 and isdischarged to the atmosphere through their outlet openings and theopenings 19 in the annular part 13 of the frame structure 12.

The motor fan units 16 are cooled by means of cooling air passingthrough the openings 27 in the bottom of the casing 23 and passingthrough the two motors in order to cool the same, the upper parts ofwhich seal against the inner surface of the upper part of the motorhousing 30, as seen in FIG. 3. The cooling air in the motor fan units isblown out through the openings 31 in the motor housing 30 which arepositioned within the casing 23 and exits from the casing 23 through theopenings 28 in the bottom sector of the casing 23.

What is claimed is:

l. A floor surface treating apparatus comprising a container having anupper part provided with an inlet opening for dust-laden air or liquid,a discharge opening for clean air, a lower part for collecting separateddust or separated liquid, a generally vertically disposed cycloneseparation in said container operatively connected to said inletopening, at least one motor-fan unit in said container for moving airthrough said container, a filter in said container, means mounting saidfilter above said separator and said motor-fan unit, said separatorhaving an outlet, and a conduit system means including pipe meansextending through said filter for transporting air from the separatorthrough said outlet and said pipe means and through said filter to theinlet opening of said motor-fan unit and subsequently to said dischargeopening for clean air, and conduit system means further constituting apassageway located between said filter and said inlet opening to themotor-fan unit, said passageway having a laterally extending portionlocated below said motor-fan and in which liquid is collected andsubstantially all the air passing through said filter moves therethroughand changes direction of movement to pass through said motor-fan unit.

2. A floor surface treating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid passageway includes a portion in the form ofa pipe positioned undersaid filter and being arranged generally parallel to said pipe means.

3. A floor surface treating apparatus as set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid pipe is provided with a plate at the bottom end thereof, said platebeing the ceiling of said laterally extending portion of the passageway.

1. A floor surface treating apparatus comprising a container having anupper part provided with an inlet opening for dustladen air or liquid, adischarge opening for clean air, a lower part for collecting separateddust or separated liquid, a generally vertically disposed cycloneseparation in said container operatively connected to said inletopening, at least one motor-fan unit in said container for moving airthrough said container, a filter in said container, means mounting saidfilter above said separator and said motor-fan unit, said separatorhaving an outlet, and a conduit system means including pipe meansextending through said filter for transporting air from the separatorthrough said outlet and said pipe means and through said filter to theinlet opening of said motor-fan unit and subsequently to said dischargeopening for clean air, and conduit system means further constituting apassageway located between said filter and said inlet opening to themotor-fan unit, said passageway having a laterally extending portionlocated below said motor-fan and in which liquid is collected andsubstantially all the air passing through said filter moves therethroughand changes direction of movement to pass through said motor-fan unit.2. A floor surface treating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid passageway includes a portion in the form of a pipe positionedunder said filter and being arranged generally parallel to said pipemeans.
 3. A floor surface treating apparatus as set forth in claim 2wherein said pipe is provided with a plate at the bottom end thereof,said plate being the ceiling of said laterally extending portion of thepassageway.